Dynamic prioritization of financial data by predetermined rules with audio output delivered according to priority value

ABSTRACT

A financial data system is disclosed that receives real-time data, uses a set of pre-determined rules to prioritize the data and provide a priority value, and then delivers the highest priority data by way of multiple audio channels. A key aspect of the invention is the use of data manipulation according to the priority value to adjust delivery volume, provide selective vocalization compression, add additional audio channels, or to override an existing comment when required. As a result of the invention, a significant amount of information may be aurally delivered to a user including properties of events as they change in response to changing financial conditions.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to translation of continuously flowingfinancial data into one or more audio outputs using pre-determinedrules.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Audio-based financial systems are known. One of the oldest systemsprovides actual audio commentary of market activity through the use of aperson stationed on a physical exchange trading floor who verballydescribes market activity by way of a phone headset to clients.Individuals can receive the so-called “squawk” commentary through theirphone.

Another known system connects a trader by phone and then communicateswith the trader through a series of digital tones. Static stock quotesmay be requested and then provided through the use of a voicesynthesizer. A different system permits traders to monitor select stockfinancial parameters such as market price and comments concerningvolumes, actors and trends using both audio and visual formats. Analternative approach known in the art provides information such asfinancial pricing information using a speech synthesizer. Instructionsmay be keyed in by a user concerning trigger points. Then the systemwill call the user and provide information using the voice synthesizerwhen the trigger point is activated by market activity.

Thus, financial data systems are known that calculate and alert a clientto technical indicators, time reminders, and price formations in visualor audio formats. However, each of these known systems has significantdrawbacks. While information may be provided aurally, steps have notbeen taken to maximize the amount of data flow. While differentindicators and messages may be provided, the indicators and alerts areonly generally useful to make a user aware of isolated discontinuousevents. They cannot convey information on the properties of the eventsuch as its relative importance or magnitude in comparison to otherevents. Nor is there an ability to provide information on numerousevents simultaneously.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a financial data system thatreceives real-time financial data using a data reception module and usesa pre-determined set of rules to normalize and prioritize the data, andto provide a priority value to the data. A first set of variables isprovided in the data and a second set of variables is calculated usingthe first set of variables. The first and second sets of variables arethen used to generate a listing of possible verbal comments ranked bythe priority value. The possible verbal comments may be word or tonerelated.

Once prioritized, a sub-set of the data is broadcast using a pluralityof audio channels. In a preferred embodiment, at least one audio channelplays background sounds while a second audio channel broadcasts specificcomments ranked according to the priority value.

To deliver at least a subset of the data, the invention envisions theuse of a took-up table of pre -recorded comments, the use of a voicesynthesizer, and the use of live audio streaming.

A key aspect of the invention is the manipulation of selected verbalcomments before delivery using volume or vocalization compressioncorresponding to the priority value of each verbal comment. Ifnecessary, while a current verbal comment is being delivered a higherpriority new verbal comment may either override the current verbalcomment or result in the addition of another audio channel.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pre-determined rulesinclude a decay value that affects the priority value of the possibleverbal comments with each successive calculation of the second set ofvariables and the listing of the possible verbal comments.

As a result of a combination of multiple audio channels, volume control,vocalization compression, and selective overriding, a tremendous amountof real-time financial information may be delivered to a user. Marketevents with greater significance and an accompanying louder sound orcompressed delivery can be easily distinguished from events of lessersignificance with lower volume and no vocalization compression.Mono-volume and non-compressed audio delivery systems are useful to makea user aware of isolated, discontinuous events. However, such systemscan only alert a user that some event has occurred. Unlike the presentinvention, they cannot convey information on the properties of an event,such as its magnitude as part of a delivery system of numerous suchevents simultaneously.

In accordance with the present invention possible applications includeaudibly conveying buy and sell activity along with associated tradesize; playing a background sound of an actual trading pit that is variedin volume to reflect the level of current trading volume; and reflectingthe bullishness or bearishness of all the buy and sell orders in amarket, commonly referred to as market depth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and inventive aspects of the present invention will becomemore apparent upon reading the following detailed description, claims,and drawings, of which the following is a brief description:

FIG. 1 is representation of an audio financial data system according tothe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the operation of the audio financialsystem.

FIGS. 3A through 3E represent a sample lookup table of pre-recordedmarket comments that have been subdivided into families of relatedcomments.

FIG. 4 is a graphical image of an audio wave for a market comment withbaseline parameters (i.e., normal volume and no time-compression).

FIG. 5 is a graphical image of an audio wave for a market comment withhigher volume output (150% of normal volume with no time-compression).

FIG. 6 is a graphical image of an audio wave for a market commentcomparing a baseline volume and a higher volume output of 150% for thesame comment.

FIG. 7 is a graph of a market comment continuous volume assignmentfunction with volume level (% of normal) as a function of the market'sfrequency value.

FIG. 8 is a graph of a background sound volume assignment function withvolume level (% of normal) as a function of the market comment'spriority equation value.

FIG. 9 is a graph of a market comment continuous time-compressionassignment function with delivery speed (% of normal) as a function ofthe market comment's priority equation value.

FIG. 10 is a time compression comparison graph of audio waves for marketcomments where the comment in the top image is at normal speed and thecomment in the bottom image is subject to 75% time compression.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A financial data distribution system 20 is illustrated in FIG. 1. Itincludes a financial mardet 22 with trades taking place in real time anda trader computer 24 connected to the financial market 22 by way of acommunications link 26. Computer 24 includes an audio data database 28that contains market data 30 transmitted from market 22 and storedaccording to pre-determined rules. Data arriving from financial market22 or already stored in database 28 is compared according to thepredetermined rules and selectively broadcast using computer-basedspeakers 22.

A key feature of system 20 is to convert data 30 into continuous audiocommentary and sound corresponding to verbal comment and soundunderstandable to traders, investors, and other market participantsinterested in aurally following market activity.

The audio output is delivered in two distinct formats, which may beplayed simultaneously or independently using a plurality of differentaudio channels. The first format is actual human language comments bestdescribing or summarizing recent market data that may either usepre-recorded audio as discussed further below, a text to speechsynthesizer, or streaming audio. The second format is pre-recordedbackground sound (e.g. the sound of traders on an exchange floor) thatis a representational abstraction of changing market activity for whichsimple audio comments do not suffice.

The effect of combining both audio formats simultaneously is to give acomprehensive “feel” or “sense” of market activity. The invention is asignificant improvement over common visual input, since marketconditions can change faster than the human eye can process the changesflickering on a screen. It is also an improvement over single channel,mono volume sound alert systems since the amount of audio data transferto the user is faster and more complete. The final effect is a liveaudio commentary and audio sensation of current and changing marketactivity.

The flow of data 30 is described in greater detail in FIG. 2. First, avariable N, discussed in greater detail below, is initialized to 0. At await point 31, system 20 waits for either new financial data 30 or apre-defined period of time since completion of a last comment 32 beforepassing control to a reception module 34. Typically, a pre-defined timeperiod is chosen to reduce processing load. However, if it is desiredfor system to cycle continuously then the time period may be set tozero. Alternatively, if system 20 is only to run if new financial data30 is received, then the time period may be set artificially high. Ingeneral, the purpose of having a pre-defined time period is to permitthe controlled broadcast of lower priority comments even if no newfinancial data 30 is received.

In a preferred embodiment, data 30 includes a first set of variableswith the following characteristics:

a. Bid Prices

b. Bid Sizes

c. Offer Prices

d. Offer Sizes

e. Last Trade Price

f. Last Trade Quantity

g. Total Trade Quantity

h. Associated underlying cash price (if applicable)

i. Data time-stamp

The variables associated with data 30 are stored in arrays in database28 by data reception module 34 along with previous values of these samevariables. Then a second set of additional variables is calculated usingdata 30. These additional variables include:

1. Change in Bid Price

2. Change in Bid Size

3. Change in Offer Price

4. Change in Offer Size

5. Bid—Offer Price Spread

6. Change in Bid—Offer Price Spread

7. Change in Total Trade Volume

8. Traded Price Range (low to high)

9. Range High Price

10. Range Low Price

11. Largest volume single trade

12. Buy-side volume

13. Offer-side volume

14. Trading velocity index

15. Cash-Futures Basis Value

16. Change in Basis Value

The calculated variables associated with data 30 are also stored inarrays in database 28 by reception-module 34 along with previous valuesof the same variables. The variables are then normalized to valuesbetween 0 and 1 to bind the potential range of the values of thepriorities of the comments.

Next, a determination is made at decision point 36 if a comment audiochannel is available. If a comment audio channel is available, then data30 is prioritized at point 38 using a logic engine or decision matrix.The logic engine sorts and sifts incoming data 30 based on aprioritization system derived from what is the most crucial and relevantdata for market participants. For example, the logic engine uses thedata inputs to analyze, sort, and prioritize price levels, changes inprice levels, speed of change of price levels, trading volume, change intrading volume, flow of activity, timeframes, statistical, technical andother relevant numerical financial indicators and events to determinethe appropriate audio comments, sequence of audio comments, and mannerof delivery of the audio comments based on the generation of priorityvalues corresponding to the data. To save on processor computationaltime, it is generally preferred that not all potential equations besolved unless certain criteria are met. Preferably, the maximum value ofthe priorities is approached asymptotically. The normalized values alongwith the most recent real-time variables (e.g., a-i above) are then usedto calculate the priority value of each comment.

To determine which comment best describes recent market activity it isnecessary to first define the market comments. One possible lookup tableof pre-recorded market comments is reproduced in FIGS. 3A through 3E.The sample market comments are subdivided into families of relatedcomments including: Bid Family (with subfamilies Simple Bid, Bid withSize, Qualitative BidSize, Dynamic BidSizeUp, Dynamic BidSize Down,DeltaBid Price Up, DeltaBid Price Down, and Bid-Offer Combo Quote);Offer Family (with subfamilies Simple Offer, Offer with Size,Qualitative OfferSize, Dynamic OfferSizeUp, Dynamic OfferSizeDown,DeltaOffer Price Down, and DeltaOffer Price Up); Trade Family (withsubfamilies Simple Trade, Simple Trade with Size, Qualitative TradeConditions, Up Direction Trade, and Down Direction Trade); Basis Family;Time Family; Summary Family; Alert Family; Limit Family; and MarketDepth Family.

The priority value of each of the market comments is then defined by anequation involving mathematical combinations of pre-defined variablessuch as those listed above, as well as some additional specialvariables. One special variable is the “decay rate.” A comment's decayrate helps determine how often a comment is reported. The priority valueof a recently vocalized comment is decreased to reduce the probabilityof a comment becoming too repetitious. The amount by which a recentlyvocalized comment's priority value is decayed is typically exponentiallyreduced over time although other types of decay rates may also be used.Typical comments are assigned a fast decay rate, and therefore, reportedmore often. Unusual comments that should be reported less frequently areassigned a slow decay rate. Sometimes comments are even assigned anegative decay rate, and actually increase in importance over time.Another special variable is the relationship of a comment to othercomments. The comment relationship variable is an important factor forincreasing or decreasing the priority of comments following the recentlyvocalized market comment(s).

The highest priority comment for a given audio channel is the commentwith the highest resulting priority value. This is the comment that isaurally reported or vocalized as shown below.

Simplified Example of Comment Generation

The following examples are simplified to demonstrate a preferred methodof generating market comments and assigning multiple audio outputchannels. To simplify this process, the number of potential marketcomments has been reduced to 1) Simple Bid Comment and 2) Simple OfferComment. Further, the comment priority equations have been simplified totheir core variables. Thus, for this example the simplified priorityequations are:

Bid Comment=N[absolute value(current bid−previous bid)]−Bid CommentDecay Value+Bid Comment Previous Comment Relation.

Offer Comment=N[absolute value(current offer−previous offer)]−OfferComment Decay Value+Offer Comment Previous Comment Relation.

Below is a list of Notations, Definitions, and Assumptions for use withthe two equations:

1. N[ ]=normalization of data in brackets. Normalization can be achievedthrough various algorithms with the intent of bounding the values ofinput.

2. Normalization Equation. In the examples to follow the normalizationequation will be: Variable/(Variable+3).

3. Bid Comment. A comment that states the price at which a potentialbuyer is willing to pay.

4. Offer Comment. A comment that states the price at which a potentialseller is willing to sell.

5. Trade Comment. A comment that states the price at which something(stock, bond, financial or commodity product) has traded.

6. Size (or Volume). The quantity of something that has been bid for,offered, or traded.

7. Decay Value. As shown in the above Priority Equations, a comment'spriority value is always reduced by its Decay Value. Whenever a commenthas been vocalized its Decay Value is increased by a predeterminedamount (the Decay Constant), reducing its priority to be said again. The“current” calculation cycle Decay Value is decayed by an algorithm(using a Decay Factor) and based on a time interval, or whenever acomment is selected for vocalization. The simplified equation used forcalculating a comment's decay value for each new calculation cyclefollows:

New Decay Value=(Previous Decay Value+Decay Constant (ifapplicable))*Decay Factor

8. Decay Constant. The Decay Constant is added to a comment's DecayValue after a comment has been vocalized. If a comment is not vocalizedin the current calculation cycle, then the Decay Constant will not beadded to a comment's Decay Value for the next calculation cycle.

9. Decay Factor. Usually less than 1 and greater than or equal to zero.The Decay Factor is multiplied by a comment's Decay Value after aspecified time interval or after a comment has been selected forvocalization in order to exponentially reduce a comment's Decay Value.Thus, as the system moves forward in time through new comment cycles theability of the Decay Value to suppress a comment is reduced.

10. Previous Comment Relation. As shown in the above priority equations,this variable is added to the priority equation value. When a comment issaid it is often the case that another comment (or type of comment)should follow next. For example, if a bid comment is said then an offercomment should usually follow, unless newly received higher prioritydata takes precedence. For example, to increase the priority of an offercomment being said after a bid comment, the Previous Comment Relationvariable in the offer priority equation is increased. In addition, somePrevious Comment Relation variables will be influenced by comments madeprevious to the last comment, such as a sequence of comments.

11. Over-ride. The ability to stop a currently playing comment and playa higher priority comment.

12. Value Assignments for this example:

When a Bid Comment is vocalized the Offer Comment's Previous CommentRelation Value=0.1; otherwise=0

When an Offer Comment is vocalized a Bid Comment's Previous CommentRelation Value=0.1; otherwise=0

Decay Constant=0.25 (for both bid and offer comment equations)

Decay Factor 0.75 (for both bid and offer comment equations)

Market open: 120 bid 130 offer First update: 122 bid 130 offer Secondupdate: 125 bid 130 offer Third update: 122 bid 127 offer

Using the above information, the equations provide the followingresults:

First Update

Bid Comment=N[122−120]=2/(2+3)=0.4

Offer Comment=N[130−130]=0

Note that the Decay and Previous Comment Relation variables are all setto zero since this is the first comment of the day.

The Bid Comment value is higher, therefore the comment said is: “122Bid”.

Now calculate the Previous Comment Relation to be used in the nextcalculation cycle:

Bid Comment Previous Comment Relation=0

Offer Comment Previous Comment Relation=0.1 (Since Bid was justvocalized)

Now calculate the Decay Values to be used in the next calculation cycle:

Bid Comment Decay Value=(0+0.25)*0.75=0.1875

Offer Comment Decay Value=(0+0)*0.75=0

Second Update

Bid Comment=N[125−122]−0.1875+0=3/(3+3)−0.1875=0.3125

Offer Comment=N[130−130]−0+0.1=0.1

The Bid Comment value is higher, therefore the comment said is: “125Bid”.

Now calculate the Previous Comment Relation to be used in the nextcalculation cycle:

Bid Comment Previous Comment Relation=0

Offer Comment Previous Comment Relation=0.1 (Since Bid was jusevocalized)

Now calculate the Decay Values to be used in the next calculation cycle:

Bid Comment Decay Value (0.1875+0.25)*0.75=0.328

Offer Comment Decay Value=(0+0)*0.75=0

Third Update

Bid Comment=N[122−125]−0.328+0=3/(3+3)−0.328=0.172

Offer Comment=N[127−130]−0+0.1=3/(3+3)+0.1=0.6

The Offer Comment value is higher, therefore the comment said is: “127Offer”.

Now calculate the Previous Comment Relation to be used in the nextcalculation cycle:

Bid Comment Previous Comment Relation=0.1 (Since Offer was justvocalized)

Offer Comment Previous Comment Relation=0

Now calculate the Decay Values to be used in the next calculation cycle:

Bid Comment Decay Value=(0.328+0)*0.75=0.246

Offer Comment Decay Value=(0+0.25)*0.75=0.1875

The updates continue until system 20 stops or data 30 stops.

The simplified example shows how streaming data 30 is analyzed todetermine the most appropriate market comment. The inventive methodologyis adaptive to changing market conditions. In this example the sequenceof comments was: 122 Bid; 125 Bid; and 127 Offer. Under normalcircumstances it would be appropriate for an offer comment to follow abid comment. However, in the example, the second market comment wasanother Bid comment, not an offer comment. Therefore, the inventivesystem allows for intelligent flexibility in reporting information to amarket listener. This is especially important when the system includeshundreds of potential comment equations along with the rigors ofreal-time, real-world market data.

Data Broadcasting

Once the priority values for all potential commentary equations havebeen calculated at point 38, at decision point 42 a determination ismade if the highest priority comment of the analyzed time interval fallsbelow a minimum threshold value. If it does then no comment will bemade. System 20 will return to wait point 31 for new financial data 30or a predefined time period since completion of the last comment 32.

If the priority value of the highest priority comment is greater thenthe minimum threshold, at decision point 44 a determination is made ifpre-recorded audio files are to be used with optional data hooks (e.g.,the insertion of numbers is following a pre-recorded statement) tobroadcast specific variables associated with the data. Alternatively, atdecision point 46 if data 30 is in text format, a speech synthesizer mayspeak the data. Otherwise, live streaming of the data is assumed atpoint 48. The use of pre-recorded audio files, speech synthesizers andlive streaming are examples of data delivery means for converting data30, as calculated, into verbal comments or tones.

Comment Delivery Using Volume Control

At point 50 the volume of the audio stream may be automatically adjustedwithout user intervention according to data characteristics. As analternative to increasing data output volume, different pre-recordedaudio files may contain the same data, but have been recorded atdifferent volumes.

By automatically adjusting the volume setting of a reported comment,more important market information can be aurally distinguished from lessimportant information. For purposes of providing an example, relevantinformation from the earlier example follows:

Update # Winning Comment Priority Equation Value First Update “122 Bid”0.4 Second Update “125 Bid” 0.5 Third Update “127 Offer” 0.5

The Priority Equation Value excludes the variables Decay Value andPrevious Comment Relation. These variables are not used in thiscalculation because they are important for guiding the sequence ofcomments, but not in Valuing a comment's absolute priority for thepurpose of delivery.

As a result of the normalization process discussed earlier, the volumelevel equation for all comments must always be between 0 and 1(0<=Value<=1). The normalization equations are designed so that averagemarket data results in a priority equation value in a pre-determinedvalue range.

The two most basic ways to automatically set volume levels for avocalized comment are (1) threshold value volume assignment(discontinuous model), and (2) unique volume assignment (continuousmodel).

The discontinuous model will set the volume output of market comments toa normal pre-determined volume level. Then, if a winning comment has apriority equation value above a specified threshold level, the volumelevel of this comment's vocalization will automatically be set to ahigher level.

For example, the threshold level for higher volume vocalizations may beset to a priority equation value of 0.5 or greater. A Priority EquationValue of 0 to 0.49 would have a normal baseline volume while 0.5 to 1.0could have a volume setting of 150% of the baseline volume. Using thedata generated above, the first update's comment has a priority equationvalue of 0.4. Thus, it will be vocalized at a normal baseline volumelevel. FIG. 4 shows a graphical image of the wave pattern of a marketcomment reported at a normal baseline volume. The second and thirdmarket updates' comments each have priority equation values of 0.5,triggering the higher threshold volume setting. Therefore, the secondand third market comments (“125 Bid” and “127 Offer”) will be broadcastat a higher volume output level, 150% of normal. FIG. 5 shows agraphical image of the wave pattern of the same market comment shown inexhibit #1, but vocalized at 150% of normal baseline volume. FIG. 6presents a direct graphical comparison of the two different volumelevels. Of course, there also could be a series of threshold levels formultiple volume assignments.

The second basic way to automatically set volume levels for marketcomments is by continuous volume assignment. By way of continuous volumeassignment, a unique volume level is set for each distinct priorityequation value. Assuming that the baseline volume is set at 100%, everytime a winning comment has a priority equation value of 0.5 the volumecould be set to 150% of normal baseline volume. Every time a winningcomment has a priority value of 0.3 the volume could be set to 103% ofnormal. Finally, every time a winning comment has a priority value of0.2 the volume could be set to 91.3% of normal.

Essentially, volume levels are assigned to winning market comments as acontinuous function. Using the same type of normalization equation usedin the priority equations, each priority value has a unique volumeassignment. Furthermore, the minimum and maximum volume levels can bepre-selected. For example, the minimum volume level could be 50% ofnormal and the maximum volume assignment could be 250% of normal. Thevolume assignment extremes are approached asymptotically as described bya graphical image of the normalization equation. Moreover, differenttypes of market comments (Bid Family, Trade Family, etc.) can includedifferent volume assignment normalization equations.

An example of using continuous volume assignment as applied toindividual market comments is shown in FIG. 7. The volume level is onthe Y-axis and the Priority Equation Value is on the X-axis. Winningcomments with higher priority values will be assigned higher volumelevels, as defined by the function graph. Volume levels are assigned ina continuous manner. Each specific priority value returns a uniquevolume level assignment.

Data Delivery Using Background Sounds

Background sound is simply a way to help re-create the activity and feelof a real trading floor. For example, one or more separate audiochannels may play or broadcast pre-recorded trading floor activity,which captures the yelling, screaming and trading of an exchange floor,or any other sound of interest in a continuous loop. At the same timethat data reception module reviews data 30 and determines if a commentaudio channel is available at decision point 36, it also determines ifone or more background sound channels are to be used as shown atdecision point 52. If yes, then the audio priority values are calculatedfor the background sounds at point 38 as discussed above except thatdifferent pre-determined rules are applied for the background sounds asopposed to the comments, and the system continues as described. If no,then background sound is not used, terminating at point 54.

The most important element of the background sound is typically theautomatic adjustment of the output volume. The volume level is variedbased on the frequency and size of market activity. An increase inmarket activity automatically increases the volume of the backgroundsound, while a decrease in market activity automatically decreases thevolume. Essentially, the background sound is an audio abstraction ofchanging market activity. It adds to, and enhances, the informationgiven in simple market comments.

Volume control for background sound is adjusted based on a combinationof market data, such as number of trades, trade volume, new bids, andnew offers, per time interval. The data is normalized, used in anexponential moving average calculation, and then used to assign a volumelevel. A moving average is used to smooth out the volume changes so thata brief spike in market activity will increase the volume, but notunduly so.

An example of a continuous volume assignment for background sound isshown in FIG. 8 where the volume level is on the Y-axis and theFrequency Value is on the X-axis. While there are many differentpossible shapes for the function assignment graphs, FIG. 8 shows acontinuous curving function where the extremes are approachedasymptotically. In some cases it may be desirable to use a more simplestraight-line function with the upper and lower extremes chopped off. Ascan be seen from FIG. 8, the higher a market's frequency value thehigher the background sound's volume assignment. The moving average ofthe normalized frequency values is bounded between 0 and 1 on theX-axis. Furthermore, the volume assignment level is bounded between 50%of normal and 200% of normal on the Y-axis. Using this functionequation, a normal volume (100%) is applied with a market's movingaverage frequency value of approximately 0.375 (⅜).

An example of how the Priority Equation Value for background volume maybe calculated uses the same data as for the example above, but includesanother variable called frequency, which is defined as the number ofmarket updates per time interval. The table below shows the hypotheticalvalues for the frequency variable immediately after the reception of anew market update.

Update # Bid Offer Frequency Market open: 120 bid 130 offer 1.0 Firstupdate: 122 bid 130 offer 1.5 Second update: 125 bid 130 offer 2.1 Thirdupdate: 122 bid 127 offer 3.0

The frequency variable is monitored and tallied in the data-receptionmodule 34. Then, it is normalized in order to bind its value between 0and 1. An exponential moving average of the normalized frequencyvariable is calculated as shown in the following chart:

Normalized Exponential Volume Value Moving Ave. Assignment Update #Frequency (1) (2) (3) Market open 1.0 0.25 N/A Baseline Normal Firstupdate 1.5 0.33 N/A Baseline Normal Second update 2.1 0.41 0.35 110%Baseline Third update 3.0 0.50 0.44 124% Baseline (1) Normalizationequation = variable/(variable + 3). (2) Moving Average (“MA”)Calculation. In the example a 3 period exponential moving average isused. MA = ((recent var * 3) + (prev. var * 2) + (2^(nd) prev. var *1))/6. In reality, other moving average methods may be used. Inpractice, until there is enough data to calculate 3 period movingaverage the baseline volume is assigned until MA moving average isavailable. (3) Volume level assignment is done using a continuousnormalization function as discussed above.

As the frequency of market activity increases so does the volume of thebackground sound. A listener can easily hear that the market is gettingmore active. In addition, the results of the background sound's volumelevel assignments can also be used to set the volume level for theindividual market comments.

Finally, there is another type of background sound. Such backgroundsounds are typically played on a second or third background sound audiochannel. The second type of background sound assigns abstract sounds,such as beeps, whistles, musical notes, or words such as “bought” or“sold” to various market activities. When a specific market activity(trade on offer side) occurs, the activity's assigned sound (e.g.,“whistle” or “sold”) is played. Controlling the volume of the sounds canconvey the magnitude or importance of the specific market event. Thevolume level assignments are calculated in an identical manner to themethod described for comment volume above. There are many marketsituations where a brief sound conveys maximum information in minimumtime, especially with the volume control feature. This type ofbackground sound provides a fast and efficient way to convey informationto market participants.

In summary, the idea of automatic volume control is to quickly conveythe relative importance of market information. If a market is quiet ornormal then comments will be reported with normal volumes. Whensomething important happens, say a large increase in the bid size, a bigincrease in the bid price, or even a large transaction, then a user willquickly hear that the market update is important, and should be noted.The volume will be louder. This is a dramatic improvement overtraditional quote machines, or steady volume quote reports.

Comment Delivery Using Vocalization Compression

Another way to convey the relative importance of information in additionto sound volume is through sound compression. As shown at point 56, thedata output delivery time may be compressed according to predetermineddata characteristics. In some cases, the compression may be used toincrease pitch. In other cases, it may be desirable to maintain pitcheven as its delivery time is decreased. Rather than compressing the dataoutput time itself, pre-recorded audio files may have been recorded atdifferent compression rates.

As with volume control, sound compression may be either continuous ordiscontinuous. FIG. 9 shows an example of a continuous function that maybe used for determining the delivery speed (time-compression) of anindividual comment. The X-axis shows the comment's priority equationvalue (normalized and excluding the Decay Value and Last CommentRelation variables as discussed above because these variables are onlyuseful in guiding the sequence of comments, but not in valuing acomment's absolute priority). The Y-axis shows the delivery speedassignment with values bounded from normal (100%) up to 70% faster thannormal. For priority values below 0.25 the result is a slower thannormal delivery speed. In practice, however, the slowest allowabledelivery speed will typically be normal delivery speed.

A methodology similar to the generation of background sound as discussedabove can control the amount by which a comment's speed is increased.Alternatively, a comment's vocalization speed can be adjusted based oncalculations similar to the main decision algorithm.

A simplified example of how to use time-compression relies on the marketdata provided above, as well as the frequency variable introduced forthe explanation of background sound. For purposes of the example, adiscontinuous threshold method is used where a threshold frequency isset at 3.0 or greater for activating time-compression at a level of 75%compression.

Once again, the following data 30 arrives into the data reception module34 and calculated according to predetermined rules as follows:

Update # Bid Offer Frequency Market Comment Market open: 120 bid 130offer 1.0 First update: 122 bid 130 offer 1.5 “122 Bid” Second update:125 bid 130 offer 2.1 “125 Bid” Third update: 122 bid 127 offer 3.0 “127Offer”

For convenience, each update interval's winning market comment is shownin a separate column. As illustrated, at the time when the first andsecond comments were generated the frequency variable was below 3.0.Therefore, both the first and second comments are vocalized at thebaseline, or normal, delivery speed as shown in FIG. 4.

But then the situation changes. Market activity increases. By the timethe third update's comment is generated, the frequency variable is 3.0,above the time compression threshold level. Therefore, the marketcomment of “127 Offer” is reported at a faster pace (without changingthe pitch) such that it is time-compressed to 75% of the originaldelivery speed. FIG. 10 presents a direct graphical comparison of thetwo different delivery speeds.

By reducing the audio report time to 75% of normal, the system isavailable sooner, to vocalize the next market update. Moreover, thelistener can hear that the pace of activity is increasing and thusbetter prepare for action.

In summary, the volume and data compression values are preferablydetermined as follows. Before actual vocalization, the highest prioritycomment's absolute equation value is compared with the equation value ofother recent winning comments, and to a set of relative values. A volumelevel or data delivery rate for the highest priority comment iscalculated from the comment's relative value. This volume level or datadelivery rate assignment will be used to control the mode of thecomment's vocalization. Relatively more important comments will bereported at a louder volume level and/or at a higher rate of datadelivery. Less important comments will be reported at a lower volumelevel and/or a lower rate of data delivery. Although a comment may bethe highest priority for the latest analysis interval it may not be animportant comment in general. This method of volume and data deliveryflow control allows for the “highlighting” of more important marketinformation.

The use of volume control and data delivery time compression areimportant features of the invention. Moreover, they are examples of datamanipulation means to alter an aural delivery of verbal commentsaccording to priority values. Market events with greater significanceand an accompanying louder sound or compressed audio can be easilydistinguished from events of lesser significance and a quieter sound oruncompressed audio. Since traders are overwhelmed with information, mostof which is visual, varying sound volume and data delivery compressionprovide a powerful way to focus a trader's attention on events ofgreater significance. Thus, a trader's energy and concentration can beconserved for when it is needed in a busy market by being able to relaxduring slower periods and the accompanying low volume sound anduncompressed data flow. Without varying sound volume, traders have toeither constantly watch the screen for market activity (which isexhausting to do all day long) or use a basic mono-volume system, whichhave limited utility.

Mono-volume alerts are useful to make traders aware of isolated,discontinuous events. However, mono-volume alerts can only alert tradersthat some event has occurred. They cannot convey information on theproperties of the event, such as its relative importance or magnitude.In contrast, by varying the sound volume or compressing the delivery ofan audible alert, the properties of an event can be conveyed to traders.This profoundly improves the usefulness of any audible alert.

For example, it is generally not useful and usually distracting to havea mono-volume alert beeping every time a common event occurs, such asbuy orders being added to the current best bid. The only informationbeing conveyed is that the event continues to occur. If the event iscommon and occurs often, this information is of little value to a traderand would be delivered at the expense of potentially distracting thetrader. For this reason, mono-volume alerts are usually not used forcommonly occurring events. Alternatively, an audible alert system inwhich an event's magnitude is algorithmically converted to a beep'svolume or a compressed delivery of the beep can provide useful,continuous information, such as the frequency and size of the ordersbeing added to the bid. This is valuable information to a trader,converting the potentially distracting beep into a meaningful continuousmeasure of a market's current state. Since the trader is receiving theinformation from the combination of audible alerts and changing volumelevels he is free to visually concentrate on other areas of his tradingscreen. High concentrations of real-time data can be audibly conveyed totraders by carefully choosing the events to which sounds are assignedand properly designing their volume algorithms.

Additionally, by varying sound volume, information can be audiblyconveyed to traders faster than a human can possibly verbally convey it.For example, assume a market trades 5 times on the bid in one second.Three trades were small in size, one was medium in size, and one waslarge. It is important for the trader to know all of this information.Yet, it is very difficult for a human voice to accurately explain it inthat second. By assigning a beep to trades on the bid andalgorithmically converting the size of the trades into the volume levelof the beep or by compressing the delivery of the beep even a blindtrader can easily follow what just occurred (e.g., “Beeeeep, Beeeeep,Beeeep, Beeep, Beep”, where both sound volume is increased and thedelivery time is compressed).

Moreover, by assigning a lower pitched tone to trades on the bid and ahigher pitched tone to trades on the offer, a trader is able to followall trades that occurred in a market. This is not currently feasibleeven if a trader constantly stared at the “last trade” and “last tradevolume” portion of a trading screen—the visual updates flash by tooquickly to all be read, and if they aren't read there is no impression.

Alternatively, the varying volume beeps in combination with datacompression allows all of the trading activity to be heard, understoodand acted upon. Additionally, if the trader were forced to stare at the“last trade” and “last trade volume” portions of his screen he wouldn'tbe looking at the bid and offer and therefore couldn't effectively tradeat this time (because he wouldn't know what price he was buying orselling). Thus, the invention immerses the trader much more deeply intothe trading activity.

Specific applications of both volume and data delivery time compressioninclude the following:

Audibly conveying the buy and sell activity and the associated tradesize through different tones or words such as “sold” or “bought” playedat varied volumes or at different data compression rates.

Playing a background sound of an actual trading pit which is varied involume to reflect the amount of current trading activity. Low tradingactivity would be relatively quiet and fast market conditions would beloud.

Playing either prerecorded verbal comments or text comments read by asynthesized speech program at varied volumes or at different deliveryspeeds to reflect the significance of the events being commented upon.

The market depth (the entire book of bids including the bids below thecurrent best bid, and all the offers including the offers above thecurrent best offer) on the bid and offer can be represented with soundthat could be algorithmically varied in volume to reflect thebullishness or bearishness of the market depth.

The magnitude of bullish or bearish indicators could be represented bythe varying volumes or delivery speed of their associated sounds.

Orders being added to the bid side or offered side may be represented bytones or sounds and the volume of these tones in combination with theircompression may be varied based on the size of the orders.

Data Delivery Using Separate Audio Channels

As noted above, it is envisioned that there will be at least twodifferent data channels with the present invention. In a preferredembodiment one of the channels continuously delivers comments while theother channel delivers background sounds such as market activity.However, in practice, multiple comments or background sounds can bereported simultaneously on separate audio channels. This is anotherexample of a data manipulation means of the present invention. Theresult is a listening environment similar to a trading pit wheresimultaneously shouted bids, offers and trades rapidly convey largeamounts of information to the participating traders. Significantly, moreinformation is reported than can possibly be conveyed with commentsbeing made one at a time. By overlapping comments on multiple audiochannels the listener can get a rapid feel for the level and urgency oftrading activity similar to a trading pit. Each channel's comment can bechosen based on the main decision algorithm (and the over-ride algorithmas discussed further below). Furthermore, the volume and speed of thesecomments can be adjusted as described above.

Using the same data used above, the following situation exists:

Priority Value Market Update # Bid Offer (1) Frequency Comment Marketopen: 120 bid 130 offer 1.0 First update: 122 bid 130 offer 0.4 1.5 “122Bid” Second update: 125 bid 130 offer 0.5 2.1 “125 Bid” Third update:122 bid 127 offer 0.5 3.0 “127 Offer” Fourth update: 129 bid 130 offer ?3.6 ?

Once again the Priority Value excludes the variables Decay Value andPrevious Comment Relation variables. As also noted above, the fourthupdate arrives while the third update's comment is being vocalized.

Fourth Update

Bid Comment=N[129−122]=7/(7+3)=0.7

Offer Comment=N[127−130]=3/(3+3)=0.5

The winning comment is “129 Bid.” Since multiple audio channelallocation is available, however, there is no need to over-ride thecurrent vocalization as discussed below. Instead the new market commentis directed to a second audio channel allocated for market comments. Ina preferred embodiment, the practical number of audio channels is 6 to 8separate channels. Beyond these number of channels the individualcomments have been found to become indistinguishable to the human ear.Thus, “127 Offer” is reported on audio channel 1, and then “129 Bid”reported on audio channel 2. Below is a summary table:

Market Audio Priority Update # Bid Offer Value Freq. Comment ChannelMarket 120 bid 130 offer 1.0 open: First 122 bid 130 offer 0.4 1.5 “122Bid” 1 update: Second 125 bid 130 offer 0.5 2.1 “125 Bid” 1 update:Third 122 bid 127 offer 0.5 3.0 “127 Offer” 1 update: Fourth 129 bid 130offer 0.7 3.6 “129 Bid” 2 update:

In addition, if the listener has stereo sound capability then the audiochannels can be assigned to left or right speaker. For example, AudioChannel 1 and 3 sent to right speaker, audio channel 2 and 4 sent to theleft speaker, and background sound sent to both right and left speakers.

Once volume and vocalization compression are completed, backgroundsounds play on background audio channels as shown at point 58. System 20returns back to wait point 31 where module 34 waits for new financialdata 30 or a predefined time period since completion of the lastcomment. Comments begin and end, freeing a comment audio channel asshown at point 60. As discussed in greater detail below, a variable N,used to control the number of times an over-ride of a current comment ispossible, is set to 0 at the same time. Then, as also described belowwith respect to over-riding current comments, a flag is checked atdecision point 61 to determine if the data reception module shouldimmediately activate without returning to wait point 31. If the flag isset then system 20 immediately returns to module 34. If the flag is notset, then system 20 returns to wait point 31. The above process isrepeated until the market closes and the real-time streaming market datastops such that threshold 42 cannot be met or there is no additionaldata 30 to broadcast.

Priority Over-ride of Comments

As noted briefly above, the present invention includes the ability toinstitute a priority over-ride. This is yet another example of a datamanipulation means. Occasionally there is new market data that isextremely important, so important that it needs to be reportedimmediately even before the current audio stream is completed, despitethe use of one or more audio channels.

The use of the priority over-ride is only typically implemented if thereare no comment audio channels available at decision point 36. If no suchchannel is available then at decision point 62 a determination is madeif the data 30 has changed. If it has not changed, then system 20returns to wait point 31. However, if it has changed then over-rideaudio priority values are calculated at point 64. At point 64 it ispossible to calculate all of the possible audio priority values as withpoint 38. However, it is more often preferred that only the priorityvalues of a select few comments that are potentially allowed to overridean existing comment be calculated to save on processing time. Once thepriority values of one or more over-ride equations are generated, adetermination is made at decision point 66 if the new comment issufficiently more important than a current comment and an overridethreshold has been met. If it is not then system 20 sets a flag to “rundata reception module” when a comment audio channel becomes available atpoint 68. When the flag is set to on, this is basically an indicationthat new market data 30 has been received while a comment was beingverbalized. Thus, there is no need to return to wait point 31. Insteadsystem 20 should return to data reception module 34. Then this portionof system 20 ends at point 70.

However, if the new comment is sufficiently more important than acurrent comment on a specific audio channel, then at decision point 72the determination is first made if the current comment has already beenoverridden twice for this example, or by a pre-defined threshold numberN. If the audio stream has already been overridden two times, then thecurrent audio stream is not over-ridden and control passes to point 68where system 20 sets a flag to “run data reception module” when acomment audio channel becomes above, as discussed above. Otherwise, atpoint 76 variable N is incremented by 1 and system 20 passes control todecision point 44. The idea is to avoid interrupting every marketcomment. Thus, there is a balance and trade-off between delivering themost relevant market data and making audio reports comprehensible. In apreferred embodiment, when a current comment is to be over-ridden andthere are multiple comment audio channels available, the current commenton an audio channel with the lowest priority value is preferablyover-ridden first.

An example of a priority over-ride situation follows. As with priorexamples, ignore the Decay Value and the Previous Comment Relationvariables in the priority equations. For purposes of the example, apriority threshold level of 0.2 or higher is set. Therefore, a new pieceof market data must result in a priority value that is 0.2 or greaterthan the current comment's priority value. Using the same market data asabove, a fourth market update is added. The fourth update arrives whilethe third update's comment is still being vocalized.

Priority Market Update # Bid Offer Value Freq. Comment Market open: 120bid 130 offer 1.0 First update: 122 bid 130 offer 0.4 1.5 '122 Bid”Second update: 135 bid 130 offer 0.5 2.1 “125 Bid” Third update: 122 bid127 offer 0.5 3.0 “127 Offer” Fourth update: 129 bid 130 offer ? 3.6 ?

The third update's priority value is 0.5. Therefore, a new market updatewill need a priority value of 0.7 or greater to interrupt the “127Offer” comment vocalization: Fourth Update: (Priority value calculationexcluding decay and previous comment relation)

Bid Comment=N[129−122]=7/(7+3)=0.7

Offer Comment=N[127−130]=3/(3+3)=0.5

The bid comment wins with a priority value of 0.7. The priority value is0.2 greater than the currently playing priority value. System 20immediately stops the “127 Offer” vocalization in mid-stream. In itsplace the new Priority Over-ride comment of “129 Bid” is reported.Moreover, if volume control and compression control are implemented asdiscussed above and using the parameters in the corresponding examplesabove, “129 Bid” is vocalized with 150% greater volume level and 75%time-compression rate. As noted above, a fifth update could over-ridethe fourth update, but if so then a sixth update would not be allowed toover-ride the fifth update through the use of the variable N.

When a comment is overridden by a priority comment the losing comment isnot stored in a buffer or an output queue. Thus, there is no actual“buffering” in the classic sense. After a higher priority comment isvocalized a new calculation cycle begins. All of the comment priorityequations are recalculated, including the equations for the commentsthat did not win the last calculation cycle or that were over-ridden.The previous cycle's priority calculations are discarded. Therefore, theover-ridden and losing comments will compete with all other comments forthe right to be vocalized. However, there is a way to increase thepriority of both over-ridden and losing comments into the nextcalculation round. In order to describe this process we must firstdefine several types of comments.

There are two general categories of comments: “state” and “event”comments. Bid, Bid Size, Offer, and Offer Size are examples of “state”comments. As long as the bids, offers, and the like exist in a marketthen they will continue to be current and pertinent. Their “state”exists. If a “state” comment is over-ridden or loses in the previouscalculation cycle it will compete as per normal with other comments forthe next vocalization.

On the other hand, “event” comments are time sensitive. “Event” commentshave three sub-categories:

1) Decaying value comments

2) Constant value comments

3) Increasing value comments

Trades and Trade Sizes are examples of decaying value “Event” comments.Trades are current the instant they occur and usually decay inimportance over time. Therefore, if a trade occurs and is not vocalized(over-ridden or loses) in the current calculation cycle its priority tobe vocalized is reduced or decayed as time passes. If a trade isvocalized it is flagged so that it will not be vocalized again.

A price handle change is an example of a constant value “event” comment.If the “big figure” of a market's price changes then the system needs totell the listener what is the new big figure. The new big figure isreferred to as a handle change. Some comments have a special variablecalled HandleChange in their priority equation. For example, if the bidhas dropped from 105 to 98 the system should preferably announce “5 Bid”followed by “98 bid,” as opposed to “8 bid.” However, if a higherpriority offer comment is vocalized instead of “98 bid” and the next bidis 95 then it is still necessary to say the big figure (handle), such as“95 bid” instead of “5 bid.” Thus, system 20 preferably insures that the“ninety” part of the bid comment is eventually said by first setting theHandleChange variable equal to a constant, which increases the priorityof the handle comment. The HandleChange variable remains equal to theconstant (it is not decayed from one calculation cycle to the next)until the handle comment is finally vocalized. After vocalization theHandleChange variable is re-set to zero.

Finally, an example of an increasing value “event” comment is theannouncement of an impending economic statistic. This type of comment,which is time dependent, will increase in priority while “waiting” to bevocalized. These types of comments have a special variable calledTimeSensitivity in their priority equations. For example let's assumethat the monthly US unemployment figure is due out at 9:30 AM and oursystem should announce the following at 9:29 AM: “unemployment number at9:30.” Now suppose that frenetic market activity results in thegeneration of many high priority comments. The “unemployment” commentwill increase in priority each calculation cycle as 9:30 approaches,ensuring that it will be vocalized well before 9:30 AM. In order toincrease this comment's priority value, its TimeSensitivity variablewill be increased after each calculation cycle in which this comment isnot vocalized. When the comment is finally announced its TimeSensitivityvariable will be re-set to zero.

In summary, an overridden comment is not buffered. The buffering effectcomes through the priority equations and associated special variables,which as a whole act like an ecosystem. The system is self-correcting bykeeping track of past activity through the manipulation of specialvariables (e.g., Decay Factor, Previous Comment Relation, HandleChange,and TimeSensitivity) that help to “guide” the vocalized output of system20.

The disclosed embodiments and examples are given to illustrate thepresent invention. However, they are not meant to limit the scope andspirit of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention shouldbe limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A financial data system comprising: real-timefinancial data, including a first set of variables and a second set ofvariables; a data reception module to receive said financial data; a setof pre-determined rules to dynamically prioritize said first set ofvariables and said second set of variables and provide a singlereal-time priority value to said financial data; at least one audiochannel to broadcast said financial data; a data delivery module forconverting said financial data into verbal comments; and a datamanipulation module to dynamically alter an aural delivery of saidverbal comments according to said priority value.
 2. A financial datasystem as recited in claim 1, wherein said data delivery modulecomprises at least one of a pre-recorded audio file, voice synthesizerand live audio streaming.
 3. A financial data system as recited in claim1, wherein said data manipulation module includes volume control.
 4. Afinancial data system as recited in claim 3, wherein said verbalcomments are delivered at a volume greater than a base-line volume whensaid priority value is greater than a pre-determined threshold.
 5. Afinancial data system as recited in claim 1, wherein said datamanipulation module includes vocalization compression.
 6. A financialdata system as recited in claim 5, wherein said verbal comments aredelivered in a compressed verbal format when said priority value isgreater than a pre-determined threshold.
 7. A financial data system asrecited in claim 6, wherein a pitch for a given comment remainsgenerally constant between a normal verbal format and said compressedverbal format.
 8. A financial data system as recited in claim 5, whereinsaid verbal comments are delivered at a volume greater than a base-linevolume and in a compressed verbal format when said priority value isgreater than a predetermined threshold.
 9. A financial data system asrecited in claim 1, wherein said data manipulation means comprises anoverride of a current verbal comment by a new verbal comment when saidpriority value of said new verbal comment is greater than a thresholdvalue when compared to said priority value of said current verbalcomment.
 10. A financial data system as recited in claim 1, wherein afirst set of variables are provided in said financial data and a secondset of variables are calculated using said first set of variables, saidfirst and second set of variables being used to generate a listing ofpossible verbal comments ranked by said priority value.
 11. A financialdata system as recited in claim 10, said pre-determined rules includinga decay value that affects said priority value of said possible verbalcomments with each successive calculation of said second set ofvariables and said listing of said possible verbal comments.
 12. Afinancial data system as recited in claim 10, wherein said second set ofvariables and said listing of said possible verbal comments arecontinuously calculated.
 13. A financial data system as recited in claim9, wherein said pre-determined rules include a current set of saidvariables and a prior set of said variables.
 14. A financial data systemas recited in claim 9, wherein at least a subset of said variables arenormalized to generate said priority values between a pre-determinedminimum and maximum value such that each of said possible verbalcomments may be compared to all other possible verbal comments todetermine a highest ranking priority comment for a specific audiochannel.
 15. A financial data system as recited in claim 1, whereinthere are at least two audio channels, a first audio channelbroadcasting background sounds and a second audio channel broadcastingspecific market comments according to said pre-determined rules.
 16. Afinancial data system as recited in claim 1, wherein said datamanipulation module comprises one of activating a new audio channel andoverriding an existing verbal comment when said priority value of a newverbal comment is greater than a threshold value of existing verbalcomment.
 17. A financial data system as recited in claim 1, wherein saidpriority value of said verbal comments is adjusted to remove variablesused in guiding a sequence of said verbal comments before using saiddata manipulation module.
 18. The financial data system as recited inclaim 1, wherein said second set of variables is calculated from saidfirst set of variables.
 19. The financial data system as recited inclaim 1, wherein said first set of variables includes a monetary value.20. The financial data system as recited in claim 19, wherein saidsecond set of variables comprises at least one of a frequency, aquantity, a volume, or a period of time.
 21. A financial data systemcomprising: real-time financial data; a data reception module to receivesaid financial data, a set of pre-determined rules to dynamicallyprioritize said financial data and provide a real-time priority value tosaid financial data, a first set of variables provided in said financialdata and a second set of variables calculated using said first set ofvariables, said first and second set of variables being used to generatea listing of possible verbal comments ranked by said real-time priorityvalue; a plurality of audio channels to broadcast said financial data, afirst audio channel broadcasting background sounds and a second audiochannel broadcasting specific comments according to said real-timepriority value; at least one of a pre-recorded audio file, voicesynthesizer and live audio streaming for converting said data intoverbal comments; and at least one of a volume control, vocalizationcompression, a new audio channel and an overriding function todynamically alter an aural delivery of said verbal comments according tosaid priority value.
 22. A financial data system as recited in claim 21,wherein said pre-determined rules include a decay value that affectssaid priority value of said possible verbal comments with eachsuccessive calculation of said second set of variables and said listingof said possible verbal comments, said decay value being removed beforeusing said data manipulation means and after selecting said verbalcomments.
 23. A financial data system comprising: real-time financialdata, including a first set of variables and a second set of variables;a data reception module to receive said financial data; a set ofpre-determined rules to dynamically prioritize said first set ofvariables and set second set of variables, and provide a singlereal-time priority value to said financial data; at least two audiochannels being simultaneously used to broadcast said financial data; anda data delivery module for converting said financial data into verbalcomments.
 24. A method for vocalizing real-time financial datacomprising the steps of: providing real-time data, including a first setof variables and a second set of variables; prioritizing said dataaccording to pre-determined rules in a dynamic manner; generating asingle priority value for said first set of variables and said secondset of variables; converting said data into a plurality of possibleverbal comments; selecting at least one verbal comment based on saidpriority value; choosing from one of a plurality of audio channels;manipulating said verbal comment and altering an aural delivery of saidverbal comment according to said priority value; and delivering saidverbal comment.
 25. A method as recited in claim 24, including thefurther step of overriding a current verbal comment with a new verbalcomment when said priority value of said new verbal comment is greaterthan a threshold value when compared to said priority value of saidcurrent value comment.
 26. A method as recited in claim 24, wherein saidmanipulating step includes a step of adjusting automatically a deliveryvolume for said verbal comment according to said priority value.
 27. Amethod as recited in claim 24, wherein said manipulating step includes astep of adjusting automatically a vocalization compression for saidverbal comment according to said priority value.
 28. A method as recitedin claim 24, wherein said delivering step includes a step of selectingsaid verbal comment from a lookup table of pre-recorded market commentsand inserting at least a sub-set of said data into said verbal comment.29. A method as recited in claim 24, wherein said prioritizing stepincludes using a decay value that effects said priority value on asuccessive said prioritizing step for said possible verbal comments. 30.A method as recited in claim 24, wherein said converting step includesthe sub-steps of normalizing said possible verbal comments between apre-determined minimum and maximum value; and comparing each of saidpossible verbal comments to determine a highest ranking priority commentfor a specific audio channel.